U.S. patent number 5,239,466 [Application Number 07/771,690] was granted by the patent office on 1993-08-24 for system for selectively routing and merging independent annotations to a document at remote locations.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Motorola, Inc.. Invention is credited to Eric K. Crane, Janusz Hyziak, John Major, David E. Morgan, Robert S. Rosenthal, Neil N. Wellenstein.
United States Patent |
5,239,466 |
Morgan , et al. |
August 24, 1993 |
System for selectively routing and merging independent annotations
to a document at remote locations
Abstract
A personal communicating computer (112) (FIG. 1) remains in
contact, via a wireless network, with an office server (101).
Documents from various sources can be transmitted to the personal
communicating computer (112) using this network. Upon receipt, such
documents can be accessed and utilized in a variety of ways. In
particular, such documents can be annotated in a variety of ways,
and those annotations forwarded on to other destinations for
appropriate review and handling.
Inventors: |
Morgan; David E. (Lisle,
IL), Major; John (Barrington Hills, IL), Crane; Eric
K. (Wheaton, IL), Hyziak; Janusz (Des Plaines, IL),
Rosenthal; Robert S. (Kildeer, IL), Wellenstein; Neil N.
(Phoenix, AZ) |
Assignee: |
Motorola, Inc. (Schaumburg,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25092660 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/771,690 |
Filed: |
October 4, 1990 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/236; 709/238;
715/277; 707/999.002 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
10/10 (20130101); G06F 40/169 (20200101); Y10S
707/99932 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06Q
10/00 (20060101); G06F 17/24 (20060101); G06F
003/14 (); G06F 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;364/900,419
;340/825.29,825.72 ;395/295,800,200 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Joyce K. Reynolds et al., "The Darpa Experimental Multimedia Mail
System", Computer, Oct. 1985, pp. 82-89..
|
Primary Examiner: Lee; Thomas C.
Assistant Examiner: Harper; Burch
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Parmelee; Steven G.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of transmitting a plurality of annotations to a
document, comprising the steps of:
in a personal communicating computer:
A) accessing the document;
B) when receiving a first user input comprising an annotation to
the document, forming a first annotation object that comprises a
representation of first annotation information and a first set of
operations to carry out some actions with respect to the first
annotation information, which first annotation information includes
information identifying the document and which first set of
operations includes instructions to provide for a combination of
the annotation with the document at a location other than at the
personal communicating computer;
C) when receiving a second user input comprising another annotation
to the document, forming a second annotation object that comprises
a representation of second annotation information and a second set
of operations to carry out some actions with respect to the second
annotation information, which second annotation information
includes information identifying the document and which second set
of operations includes instructions to provide for a combination of
the another annotation with the document at a location other than
at the personal communicating computer, wherein the second
annotation object comprises an object that is independent from the
first annotation object;
D) when receiving a user transmit instruction regarding at least
both the first and second annotation objects, which user transmit
instruction includes destination information, automatically
transmitting the first and second annotation objects, but not the
document, to destinations selected from any of a group of
accomodatable destinations, including:
i) a common destination;
ii) mutually exclusive destinations;
iii) partially common/partially mutually exclusive
destinations,
in accordance with the user destination information, such that a
particular annotation object can be selectively transmitted to a
selected destination, and subsequent to being transmitted by the
personal communicating computer, the particular annotation object
is combined with the document pursuant to the instructions to
provide for a combination of the annotation with the document.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input comprises a
first portion of a message, and the second user input comprises a
different portion of the message.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of accessing the
document includes a step of displaying, on a display, at least a
portion of the document.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of forming the first
annotation object includes the step of displaying at least a part
of the first user input on the display.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least a part of the first user
input and at least a portion of the document are displayed on the
displayed on the display simultaneously.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting includes
transmitting via a wireless communication system.
7. A method of transmitting a plurality of annotations to a
document, comprising the steps of:
in a personal communicating computer:
A) receiving a communication, which communication includes at least
the document;
B) storing the document;
C) accessing the document;
D) when receiving a first user input comprising a first annotation
to the document, forming a first annotation object that comprises a
representation of first annotation information and a first set of
operations to carry out some actions with respect to the first
annotation information, which first annotation information includes
information identifying the document and which first set of
operations includes instructions to provide for a combination of
the first annotation with the document at a location other than at
the personal communicating computer;
E) when receiving a second user input comprising a second
annotation to the document, forming a second annotation object that
comprises a representation of second annotation information and a
second set of operations to carry out some actions with respect to
the second annotation information, which second annotation
information includes information identifying the document and which
second set of operations includes instructions to provide for a
combination of the second annotation with the document at a
location other than at the personal communicating computer, wherein
the second annotation object comprises an object that is
independent from the first annotation object;
F) when receiving a user transmit instruction regarding at least
both the first and second annotation objects, which user transmit
instruction includes destination information, automatically
transmitting the first and second annotation objects, but not the
document, to destinations selected from any of a group of
accomodatable destinations, including:
i) a common destination;
ii) mutually exclusive destinations;
iii) partially common/partially mutually exclusive
destinations,
in accordance with the user destination information, such that a
particular annotation object can be selectively transmitted to a
selected destination, and subsequent to being transmitted by the
personal communicating computer, the particular annotation object
is combined with the document pursuant to the instructions to
provide for a combination of the annotation with the document.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the communication also includes a
script associated with the document, and the step of storing the
document includes the step of executing the script.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first user input comprises a
predetermined form of authentication.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined form of
authentication comprises a digitally represented signature.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of accessing the
document includes the steps of:
C1) entering the document via an application program;
C2) editing the document using the application program.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein step D includes the steps
of:
D1) enabling an annotation capability;
D2) opening an object;
D3) receiving the first user input;
D4) storing the first user input in the object;
D5) closing the object.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of closing the object
includes the step of locking the object such that it cannot be
reopened for editing.
14. The method of claim 7, wherein the document as originally
received comprises both a base document and at least one previously
made annotation.
15. A personal communicating computer, comprising:
A) a wireless receiver and transmitter;
B) a memory;
C) a display;
D) a user input device;
E) processing means operably couples to the wireless receiver and
transmitter, the memory, the display, and the user input device,
for;
i) receiving, via the wireless receiver, a document;
ii) storing, in the memory, the document;
iii) displaying, on the display, at least a part of the
document;
iv) initiating an annotation mode of operation;
v) receiving a first user input, entered through said user input
device, comprising a first annotation to the document, and in
response thereto forming a first annotation object that comprises a
representation of first annotation information and a first set of
operations to carry out some actions with respect to the first
annotation information, which first annotation information includes
information identifying the document and which first set of
operations includes instructions to provide for a combination of
the first annotation with the document at a location other than at
the personal communicating computer;
vi) receiving a second user input, entered through said user input
device, comprising a second annotation to the document, and in
response thereto forming a second annotation object that comprises
a representation of second annotation information and a second set
of operations to carry out some actions with respect to the second
annotation information, which second annotation information
includes information identifying the document and which second set
of operations includes instructions to provide for a combination of
the second annotation with the document at a location other than at
the personal communicating computer, wherein the second annotated
object is independent from the first annotated object;
vii) receiving a user transmit instruction, entered through said
user input device, regarding at least both the first and second
annotation objects, which user transmit instruction includes
destination information;
viii) automatically transmitting, using the wireless transmitter,
the first and second annotation objects, but not the document to
destinations selected from any of a group of accomodate
destinations, including:
a) a common destination;
b) mutually exclusive destinations;
c) partially common/partially mutually exclusive destinations;
in accordance with the user destination information, such that a
particular annotation object can be selectively transmitted to a
select destination, and subsequent to being transmitted by the
personal communicating computer, the particular annotation object
is combinable with the document pursuant to the instructions to
provide for a combination of the annotation with the document.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of communications,
including but not limited to document reception and alteration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The communication needs of a modern business person are many and
varied. During the course of a typical day, many such persons
receive, create, review, act upon, respond to, alter, and/or send a
wide variety of both tangible and electronic messages. Such
messages, for example, include letters, memorandum, and reports
appearing both on paper and in electronic form, facsimiles, graphic
information in both tangible and electronic forms, spreadsheet
information (either in the form of a report or in the context of a
spreadsheet application program), and a wide variety of small
notes, such as instructions, inquiries, or comments and the like as
scribbled by hand on tangible copies of such documents. All of the
above, and other examples of like kind, can generally be considered
as visual information (as versus, for example, oral
information).
In the context of a typical office setting, such visual information
comprises an acceptable and relatively efficient manner of
facilitating communication between co-workers and others in a
substantially time sensitive manner. When a business person travels
away from his or her office, however, access to this visual message
infrastructure is essentially lost. As a substitute, most time
sensitive issues are dealt with orally by use of a telephone.
Facsimile transmissions, overnight delivery services, and wireline
modem equipped portable computers also provide some measure of
visual information exchange when away from the office, but
represent only a small portion of the overall visual messaging
capabilities that are available in an office environment.
Accordingly, a need exists for a communication solution that will
address the above concerns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This need and others are at least partially met through provision
of a personal communicating computer and a system and method used
therewith.
Pursuant to one embodiment of the method, a document can be
accessed using the personal communicating computer, and a user can
enter first user input, second user input, and so forth, which
input comprises annotations to the document. The user can then
provide destination information for the annotations, wherein the
destinations can be varied as between the different
annotations.
In one embodiment of the invention, the personal communicating
computer only transmits the annotation information to the indicated
destinations, along with an identifier of the document that has
been annotated. Upon reception, a stored version of the identified
document can then be coupled with the annotation and viewed in its
appropriate context. By this provision, transmission resource
requirements are minimized.
In one embodiment of the invention, the personal communicating
computer operates in a system that includes at least one
information system server. This server has the capacity to transmit
and receive via both a wireline network and a wireless network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 comprises a block diagram depiction of a communication
system configured in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 comprises a block diagram depiction of a server as
configured in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 3 comprises a block diagram depiction of a personal
communicating computer as configured in accordance with the
invention;
FIG. 4 comprises a flow diagram depicting transmission operation of
the server;
FIG. 5 comprises a flow diagram depicting reception operation of
the personal communicating computer;
FIG. 6 comprises a flow diagram depicting document retrieval
operation of the personal communicating computer;
FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 comprise various example views of the display of
the personal communicating computer; and
FIG. 10 comprises a flow diagram depicting transmission operation
of the personal communicating computer.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 depicts generally a communication system configured in
accordance with the invention. Those elements of the system that
are included within a user's office are generally denoted by
reference numeral 100. In this office (100) a server (101)
functions to intercouple various document entry and reception
devices. For example, the server (101) couples directly to a
computer (102) and a scanner (103) co-located in the office (100).
In a manner well understood in the art, the server (101) can both
transmit to and/or receive document information from both of these
directly coupled terminals.
The server (101) also couples to a local area network (104) within
the office (100), and via the local area network (104) couples to
other terminals and workstations as well, such as the computer
(105) depicted. So configured, the server (101) can transmit to
various of the terminals documents originated by other terminals
within the office (100).
In general, the above elements, both individually and in the
configuration depicted, are well understood in the art, and hence
additional description will not be provided here.
The office server (101) also couples to a network (106) located
exterior to the office (100). This network may be, for example, a
public switched telephone network, an integrated services digital
network, or other publicly accessible or privately maintained
communication network. Via this network (106), the server couples
to other source and/or destination terminals, such as other
computers (107) and facsimile machines (109) as well as other
servers (108). Again, such a configuration, and the components
thereof, are generally well understood in the art.
Pursuant to this embodiment, the office server (101) also couples
to a two-way radio (110), which radio functions as a radio
frequency modem. (It should be understood that the "radio" (110)
may also be provided by coupling to a radio system, such as a
multi-frequency, multi-base-site system having central or
distributed control of channel allocation within the system. For
example, the server (101) could couple to the network control
processor of a Motorola trunked radio system such as a Smartnet
system.) So configured, the server can communicate data messages
(111) between itself and other computers (112) that are also radio
equipped. Depending upon the type of message and the capabilities
of the radio (110) (or radio system), these messages can be
communicated as point-to-point, point-to-multi-point,
point-to-network-to-multi-point, network-to-network, and so forth.
Such radio equipped computers are referred to herein as personal
communicating computers.
Using the above architecture, the office server (101) can receive
and transmit a variety of documents both within and without the
office (100) environment using both a wireline network and a
wireless network. This, of course, includes the capability of
accessing the data storage of other computers that are directly
coupled to the server, or that can be reached via the local area
network (104).
FIG. 2 depicts the office server (101) in more detail. The office
server (101) includes generally a computer (201) that serves as a
processing platform consistent with the needs of a particular
application. A program memory (202) couples to the computer (201)
and provides appropriate storage facilities for the operating
instructions for the server (101). The computer (201) also couples
to a document memory (203), wherein documents can be stored by the
server (101).
In order to facilitate coupling of the server (101) to the various
terminals, local area networks, and other networks as described
above, the computer (201) also couples to various input/output
devices, such as the radio frequency input/output unit (204), the
public switched telephone network input/output unit (205), the
local area network input/output unit (206) and other direct
input/output units (207) as appropriate to directly couple the
server (101) to computers (102), scanners (103), and other document
source and destination points as desired.
The above elements are generally understood in the art, both alone
and in the combination depicted. What is particularly appropriate
to understand at this point is that the office server (101)
constitutes a programmable platform that can be appropriately
programmed to operate in accordance with the teachings of the
invention.
The personal communicating computer (112) referred to briefly in
FIG. 1 appears in more detail in FIG. 3. The personal communicating
computer (112) includes a central processing unit (301). The
central processing unit (301) has both control and data links to a
two-way radio (302), the latter being compatible with the radio
services used by the office server (101) (FIG. 1). The central
processing unit (301) of the personal communicating computer (112)
also couples to a memory (303) (which memory stores appropriate
operating instructions as well as user documents), to a keyboard
(304) or other appropriate user input device, and to a display
(305) or other appropriate user information output device.
The basic components, both alone and in the configuration depicted,
of the personal communicating computer are well known and
understood in the art. What is again important to understand here
is that the personal communicating computer constitutes a
programmable platform that can be programmed to operate in
accordance with the teachings of the invention.
As noted earlier, the office server (101) is substantially
universally coupled to all document source machines, and receives
documents intended for transmission from an originating point to
one or more indicated destination points. In order to accommodate
the needs of this embodiment, when providing such a document to the
server, the originating party will also provide an accompanying
message identifying the intended destination or destinations of the
document. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the
originating party may also include an expiration date, which
expiration date indicates a time beyond which the office server
(101) should no longer continue attempts to forward the document to
an indicated destination.
With reference to FIG. 4, the document transmission mode (400) of
the server will now be set forth. Upon receiving a document (401),
the server stores the document (402) in its document memory (203 of
FIG. 2) and then determines the intended destination(s) (403) of
the document by considering the destination information provided by
the originating party. Since at least some "intended destinations"
are portable (and likely move about regularly), this process will
often likely include a location determining step. Location of the
roaming destinations can be determined in a variety of known ways.
For example, present location can be determined through use of a
system-wide poll. In the alternative (or in addition), the roaming
units can either voluntarily or automatically register their
present location with the server (or with a database platform of a
supporting radio system that is accessible by the server). It is
also possible that determining an appropriate destination will
require consideration of supplemental destination information
and/or user specified destination preferences (for further
elaboration with respect to both of these concerns, see CM-01311H,
entitled "Message Routing and Destination Selection," and
CM-01357H, entitled "Temporary Message Routing and Destination
Selection", both of which were filed on even date herewith and are
incorporated herein by this reference).
If not determined earlier, the server then determines the present
location of the intended recipient device (404) (by accessing a
database containing current locations as determined via a
registration process, or by polling). If location cannot be
determined, the process concludes (415) (if desired, a message to
this effect can be sent to the originating party). If location of
the destination is known (404), the process determines whether
conversion of the document, from one format to another, is required
(405). For example, the server may receive the document in a first
format, and have access to information indicating that the intended
destination prefers a second format. Or, by way of another example,
the transmission medium that the server must select in order to
transmit the document may not be compatible with the original
format of the document. Based upon such issues and knowledge, and
presuming that a format conversion routine is available to the
server, the format of the document will be changed (406) to meet
this preference or need (for further information regarding such
format preference indications, the reader is again referred to the
previously mentioned patent application entitled "Message Routing
and Destination Selection").
If access to the intended destination by the wireline network is
available (407), the server transmits the document (408) via that
network to the intended destination. (Some small delay may of
course be experienced due to contention protocols and other access
time issues; nevertheless, for purposes of this explanation, it may
be considered that transmission of the document in this way occurs
in a relatively real time context.) This transmission activity
(408), of course, can involve a variety of other activities as
desired and/or as appropriate to a particular application. For
example, the server can first determine whether the selected
destination can be reached via the local area network (104), or
whether the wide area network (106) must be selected. In either
case, compression of the document may also be appropriate to
minimize bandwidth requirements and/or transmission time. Such
compression can be provided in a variety of known manners. Also,
the server can monitor whether transmission actually occurs, or is
prevented due to a temporary problem (line disruption, bus
contention, and the like). When monitoring this parameter, the
server can additionally determine whether further attempts to
transmit the document should be terminated. In this regard, a
default time period or the user specified expiration time period
can be used to provide a measure against which such a decision can
be made.
Following transmission (408), the server can return to other
activities (415).
When wireline access cannot be had for a particular indicated
destination (407), the server will determine whether wireless
access to the intended destination is currently available (409). If
not, the server will monitor from time to time to determine whether
such wireless connectivity occurs at a later time. At the same
time, the server will occasionally determine whether the expiration
time provided by the originating party has occurred (410). If the
expiration time occurs before transmission can occur, the server
will terminate attempts to transmit the document. In one embodiment
of the invention, the server also provides to the originating party
an indication of this failure to transmit the document (411). In
yet another embodiment, the server will add an identification of
the document, along with other relevant information (such as the
identity of the originating party and the age of the document), to
a list of documents that could not be sent (412). A user could then
interrogate the server and receive at least identifying information
regarding the dropped messages, and could then potentially take
action to contact the originating party and seek a retransmission
of the document.
Presuming that the expiration time has not occurred, and that a
wireless connection becomes available (409), the document can, when
appropriate, be compressed (413) in accordance with well understood
technique to minimize its bandwidth requirements, and then
transmitted (414) via the server's radio (110 of FIG. 1) to the
intended personal communicating computer (112 of FIGS. 1 and
3).
Referring now to FIG. 5, the reception operation (500) of the
personal communicating computer (112) will be described.
Since the personal communicating computer (112) likely constitutes
a portable device, it will not likely be maintained in a fully
operational operating mode at all times, since this would deplete
its portable power source relatively quickly. Rather, in accordance
with well understood technique, the personal communicating computer
(112) will likely include a sleep capability, whereby the computer
operates in a very low current drain mode on an intermittent basis.
These low current episodes are interrupted from time to time by a
wake-up mechanism of choice (501).
During such a period of higher level activity, the personal
communicating computer (112) can become aware that the server (101)
has a message intended for its reception. (There are many ways
known in the art by which this can be accommodated. For example,
the server can transmit via its coupled radio an occasional
announcement listing those personal communicating computers for
which it currently has a message. Upon receiving such an
indication, the personal communicating computer can transmit an
indication of its readiness to receive the document. By way of
another example, the personal communicating computer (112) can be
equipped with two radios, with one of the radios being a pager.
Independent wide area paging systems would then be used to page the
computer (112) and alert it to the need to access its other radio
link to receive a message. As yet one more example, the user could
himself carry an independent pager. The server (101) could access
this pager via the paging infrastructure, and directly alert the
user of the need to access the wireless network with his personal
communicating computer.) The personal communicating computer (112)
then receives the document (502) as transmitted via the wireless
network. The received document is then stored in memory (303 of
FIG. 3).
When transmitting the document to the personal communicating
computer, the server may include one or more scripts with the
document. Such scripts can constitute instructions for the personal
communicating computer that are to be executed with respect to the
document. For example, if a document has been transmitted in
accordance with a particular compression technique, the script can
identify that compression technique to thereby allow the receiving
device to decompress the information. Other scripts could
accommodate format conversion requests, decryption, obtaining other
files to include during prsentation of the document, subsequent
routing instructions (to accommodate, for example, a series of
approval steps), a particular form or template for presentation of
the contents of the document, a return receipt procedure, and
filing instructions.
In the flow depicted, when such a script is included with the
document (504), the script will be executed (505).
An appropriate alarm (506) may then be sounded, along with other
indicia as desired or appropriate, to indicate reception of the
document (507). In the alternative, such indicias may be avoided,
and the reception process may be completed (508) without use
thereof. For example, certain categories of documents, or certain
documents within a particular category, may be time critical, and
for such documents it would be appropriate to provide a signal to
the user to attract the attention of the user and indicate that the
document has been received.
Referring now to FIG. 6, at some time following reception of a
document as described above, a user may choose to access the
document (600). Upon receiving such a request (601), the personal
communicating computer retrieves the document (602) from memory and
then awaits further input indicating those actions (603) that are
to be taken with respect to the document. As such actions are
taken, the personal communicating computer implements those actions
(604) and monitors for a conclusion of these activities (605). When
the user concludes the document access procedure, the personal
communicating computer closes the document (606) and returns to
other tasks at hand (607).
The actions that can be taken with respect to a particular document
are, of course, widely varying. A word processing document could be
entered using the appropriate word processing package, and edited
or otherwise revised accordingly. A spreadsheet document could be
similarly opened using the appropriate spreadsheet application, and
the information utilized in a manner consistent with that
application.
Of particular interest here is an ability to annotate the document
with one or more annotations. Such annotations are intended here to
be very much akin to the notes placed by a business person on
tangible visual messages in his or her office environment, such as
notes scribbled on a document. Such tangible notes are typically
intended for review and action by others, and to facilitate this,
the tangible item itself, along with the personally inscribed
annotation, makes its way to such other individuals for appropriate
action.
In a very significant way, the present embodiment is directed
towards a similar capability; i.e., allowing a user outside of his
or her normal office environment to receive a document, to
conveniently annotate it, and to thereafter forward that document,
with appropriate annotations, to the intended party. With such a
capability, a business person not in their office can nevertheless
review, process, delegate, and otherwise carry on many of their
normal activities notwithstanding their not then currently being in
an office.
Consider, for example, FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the display
(305) of the personal communicating computer (112) includes a
plurality of pull down menus, including an "urgent" menu (701) and
a "for your approval" menu (702). (Documents as received by the
personal communicating computer can include a document type
indicia, as appropriate to a particular user application, which
indicia can indicate one of these categories.) A user using a
typical pointer (703) can select the "urgent" menu (701), thereby
revealing the full menu (704). In this example, "urgent" memos have
been received from three individuals, namely Fisher, Tooker, and
Galvin. Assuming, for continued purposes of this example, that the
user selects the Fisher entry, the relevant document is accessed
and opened as described above. In this particular example, the
document consists of a short message, "Is project Felix on
schedule" (705). In accordance with this invention, the applicant
can open an annotation object through use of an annotation
application, and enter user input comprising a first annotation
(706) to the document. (In this embodiment, this first annotation
comprises the message, "Yes George everything's fine." The user can
then close this annotation (thereby allowing subsequent re-opening
and modification), or seal the object such that it cannot be
reopened for editing.
If desired, the user could provide other annotations to the
original document (705) as well. For example, the user could repeat
the above process to enter a second annotation which might read,
for example, "Eric, is everything fine?" It should be noted that
such additional annotations comprise annotation objects that are
independent of other annotation objects, including that object
which contains the first annotation described above. The user could
also include, with the annotation, a related document. This related
document could be included either by copying all or a part of the
related document and pasting the copied portion in the annotation
itself, or by including the related document as an attachment to
the annotation. Further, this related document could be one that is
retrieved locally from within the personal communicating computer
(112), or remotely from another source as accessed via the wireless
link.
The user then enter transmission commands, which commands include
or imply a particular destination. (The destination may be implied
if the user simply indicates that the document is to be replied
to.) In the present example, the user would reply to the original
sender using his first annotation. The user could also provide
destination information to allow annotation information to also be
forwarded to another party. In this example, the user could elect
to send both annotation number one and number two to a second party
using this mechanism. For this second party, both annotations
represent first and second protions of a message that are
effectively combined to represent a single message intended for
that party.
It should be noted that, when transmitting the annotation
information in accordance with the user's instructions, the
annotations are transmitted accompanied by a reference to the
original document, but are not transmitted inclusive with the
original document. In this way, only the annotation information
need be transmitted, thereby reducing bandwidth requirements. Upon
receiving the annotation information, the office server (101)
combines that annotation information with original document
information as previously stored by it, and then provides a
correctly annotated version of the document to the appropriate
destination. To ensure security, each annotation can only be
functionally combined with the original document.
For another example, consider FIG. 8. In this example, the user has
selected the "for your approval" menu (702) and has opened the full
menu (801), revealing messages regarding "3Q Budget," "Travel,"
"New Hire," and "Felix Design." In this example, again using the
pointer (703), the user selects the "travel" entry. Referring to
FIG. 9 a message (901) comprising a travel request approval appears
on the display (305). Upon reviewing this request, the user can
approve or disapprove the permission sought, by annotating the
document in the manner described above. Also, if desired, a user
can annotate a document such as this through inclusion of a
digitally represented signature (902). (Various mechanisms for
providing a relatively secure digitally represented signature are
well understood in the art. In addition, or in the alternative,
another predetermined form of authentication, such as a digitized
representation of a fingerprint, or an icon, could be used.) The
user can then again close the annotation activity, and arrange for
transmission of the annotation information to the appropriate
requesting parties.
A number of important benefits should now be evident. A user, not
located in his or her office, can receive documents of various
kinds. These documents can be utilized in a number of typical
manners, such as by reviewing and editing in accordance with the
appropriate application programs. In addition, however, the user
now has the capability of annotating those documents in a variety
of ways and transmitting those annotations to a variety of parties,
in a manner that not only equals but surpasses the tangible item
counterpart in the office place as described earlier. Particularly
important is the ability to automatically transmit a variety of
annotation objects to any of a common destination, mutually
exclusive destinations, or partially common/partially mutually
exclusive destinations. This connectivity could of course support
other useful activities as well.
Referring to FIG. 10, transmission operation (1000) of the personal
communicating computer will now be described.
At such time as a transmission instruction is received (1001), the
personal communicating computer obtains the delta information
(i.e., the information representing the difference between the
original document and the revised/annotated document) for the
document (1002) which, as described above, comprises the annotation
information itself (or other changes made to the document by one or
more other applications) as distinct from the document. Destination
information is then obtained (1003) as noted above, and the delta
information, the destination addresses, and other appropriate
instructions (such as the document identifiers noted above) are
combined (1004) and transmitted (1005) using the wireless network.
The transmission process then concludes (1006).
Upon receiving this information, the server will readily construct
an annotated (or edited) version of the original document and
forward it on to the intended recipient. The recipient, in turn,
can now treat the annotated (or edited) document as his starting
point, and repeat the above described processes to allow yet
further annotations (or edits) to the base document and its
previously made annotation(s).
Pursuant to this invention, using distributed processing in a
wireless environment, an individual can effectively extend his or
her office environment well beyond the four walls that ordinarily
define that setting. Day to day review and approval tasks can
proceed relatively unimpeded by significant separation of distance.
The productivity and effectiveness of each individual can thereby
be greatly enhanced.
The basic concepts taught here can also be readily extended. For
example, instead of using annotations that include only visual
information, the annotations could include instead stored audio
messages. Although such an annotation would not substitute for a
real-time voice communication, the same essential benefits derived
above with visual information could still likely be attained. Also,
of course, it would be possible to provide an annotation having
both audio and visual components.
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